Every child has at Shotton Hall Primary School is unique; they have their own thoughts, feelings and experiences which are grounded in their family, their community, their beliefs, their traditions and their culture.
Cultural Capital is the accumulation of knowledge, behaviours and skills which a child can draw upon. It underpins a child’s understanding of the world. Cultural Capital gives power and can help children achieve their goals, whatever their starting points.
The National Curriculum defines Cultural Capital as being, ‘The essential knowledge that pupils need to be educated citizens, introducing them to the best that has been thought and said and helping engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.’
OFTSED state that, ‘As part of making the judgement about the quality of education, inspectors will consider the extent to which schools are equipping pupils with the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life.’
Cultural Capital Experience Passport
At Shotton Hall Primary School, our children benefit from a rich and engaging curriculum that builds on what they know already. Inspiring and memorable experiences designed to broaden children’s horizons are woven through the academic year. These experiences are planned carefully to enrich our children’s cultural, social and physical development. They include visits to museums, galleries, theatres, places of worship and universities. They give our children the opportunity to work with professional artists and writers and to support local, national and international charities. Our youngest children will enjoy visits to a local farm. Our older children will challenge themselves on a residential visit.
These experiences are outlined in our Cultural Capital Experience Passport.
Cultural Capital Experience Passport
Exploring Our World
- EYFS Minibeast walk to Castle Eden Dene
- Learning about East Durham’s beautiful coastline
- Meeting exotic creatures with Steve’s Animal Ark
- Independent Learning Projects
- Outdoor learning in our Forest School area
- Exploring architecture at Passmore Pavilion
- Caring for animals at a local farm
Art and Culture
- Holly and Ivy Christmas Roadshow
- Poet Paul Cookson’s inspiring assembly
- Drawing workshop with illustrator Liz Million
- Year 6 children sharing stories with EYFS
- Drama lessons with Shotton Hall Academy
- Letters to author Kate Di’Camilllo
- Portrait artist Leanne Pearce meeting her subjects
- Wassily Kandinsky abstract art
Caring for Others
- Christmas decorations made for St Cuthbert’s Church
- Year 6 reading mentors
- Unicef Rights Respecting Schools Gold Award. One of only 500 schools.
- Help for Heroes awareness day
- John Muir Award
Happy and Healthy
- Kayaking in Seaham Harbour
- Sunny sports day on the school field
- Learning how to cook
- Our wonderful KS2 football team
Making Memories
- Celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
- Performing each term in class assemblies